Nikkie Galindo spells a word in the final rounds against winner Thomas Rubio, and third place finisher Sophia Koo Saturday at the Midland Regional Spelling Bee. Photo by Tim Fischer/Midland Reporter-Telegram

Nikkie Galindo spells a word in the final rounds against winner Thomas Rubio, and third place finisher Sophia Koo Saturday at the Midland Regional Spelling Bee. Photo by Tim Fischer/Midland Reporter-Telegram

Photo: Tim Fischer

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Thomas Rubio spells a word in the final rounds against Nikkie Galindo Saturday at the Midland Regional Spelling Bee. Photo by Tim Fischer/Midland Reporter-Telegram

Thomas Rubio spells a word in the final rounds against Nikkie Galindo Saturday at the Midland Regional Spelling Bee. Photo by Tim Fischer/Midland Reporter-Telegram

4: Consecutive years a Rubio has been the reigning Midland spelling champ.

Photo: Thomas Rubio, who took the first place trophy a second year, correctly spells a word during some of the final rounds at the Midland Regional Spelling Bee Photo by Tim Fischer/Midland Reporter-Telegram

Final foursome Rubio, Galindo, Sophia Koo from Abell Junior High and Brittney Mancha from Crockett Elementary deadlocked the bee with a fast-moving showdown for several rounds, before Rubio and Galindo eventually advanced taking the bee into more than 20 rounds.

Twice, Galindo had the older Rubio on the brink of elimination with a chance to spell a "championship word" following Rubio missteps.

Both times though, she missed her chance to eliminate the more experienced speller.

Rubio, however, proved not to be frangible (easily broken), and spelled "frangible" correctly to win the city crown.

Rubio said he was nervous both times Galindo had a chance to eliminate him, but knew he’d tried his hardest.

“I just thought in my head, if it’s my time, I’ve done the absolute best I could,” Rubio said.

Though she didn’t win, Galindo said she was thrilled to place so high.

Having had the words for 22 days, Galindo said she would write the words repeatedly each day, sometimes up to eight pages.

Additionally, Galindo worked with her grandmother, Rosemary, to spell some of the words aloud each day.

“This is her first time ever to compete and I think she did great,” Rosemary Galindo said. “I’m so proud of her.”

As a first time competitor, Nikkie Galindo said she’s looking forward to participating again next year and hopes she’ll win some day.

As a junior high student involved in basketball and tennis, Rubio said he studies every moment he can - before school, after school and with spare moments between classes.

His family has also been key to his success, he said.

“My dad reads the words out to me and I write down the ones that I missed, and I will typically go over them later to make sure I know them,” Rubio said.

Rubio will travel to Washington D.C. in May and represent Midland at the Scripps National Spelling Bee.

“I’m really excited to go back,” Rubio said. “Just the experience of going to the Capitol, all the activities we did and being up on stage again, that should be fun.”

In a separate Saturday morning competition, Ethan Wall of Monahans won the Odessa regional spelling bee.